The National Language Debate

Language is not only a tool for communication, but it also acts as a central and defining feature of identity as all human thoughts are conceptualized through a language. Language plays a significant role in shaping one’s behaviour, culture, and personality, thus it should be preserved. The recent National Education Policy draft by the present government of India has, yet again, sparked the age-old debate on the importance of Hindi as the national language and the efforts to make it the dominant speaking language in the country. A clause in the draft report recommended mandatory Hindi classes in all schools alongside English and any one of the modern Indian languages. However, after much backlash, especially from southern states like Tamil Nadu, the clause was dropped. The rejection explains the irrelevance of having a national language for one of the largest diversified democracy. The draft policy’s push for Hindi seems to be based on the premise that 54 per cent of Indians speak Hindi. But the Census 2011 figures had come up with different figure. According to the 2001 Census, 52 crore out of 121 crore people identified Hindi as their language. About 32 crore people declared Hindi as their mother tongue. This means that Hindi is the language of less than 44 per cent Indians and mother tongue of only little over 25 per cent people in India.

India is the abode of a diverse group of people with unique historical experiences, culture and language. In this multicultural society the constitution giving due respect to the plurality has identified official languages and not one national language. The Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution acknowledges 22 official languages like Bengali, Assamese and Gujrati which are spoken by the urban population as well as for literary debates and discourse. However, it excludes 38 other languages and dialects which presently demands inclusion in the schedule. Languages like Ho, Limbu, Kumauni, Pahari are spoken by the rural population, sub-urban areas and sub-regional areas. The speakers of these languages enjoy their culture and entertainment and share emotions in their own language. For instance, Bhojpuri may seem similar to Hindi, but it is not the same. If a national language is made mandatory, then the cultural history and existence of these endangered languages will be wiped off which is an irrevocable loss for all humanity. Hindi is one of the official languages of the country, if either Hindi or any other language is made the national language, it could forever leave a scar on the label “Unity in Diversity.”

Language is a significant tool for participating in the affairs of the state, speaking the national language can have considerable impact on the individual’s access to employment and education. This often leads to discrimination and injustice. It can affect the learning ability of non-native speakers and as a result ruin their self-confidence. It could endanger other languages. Pressing on the fact that unification is achieved when boundaries and differences are acknowledged. The language that one has learnt from birth gives one joy to think in that language, share emotions with the loved ones. A person has the right to address anyone in the language he/she desires to. Having a national language can tantamount to not respecting boundaries and enforcing one’s will on others, thereby it couldundermine the foundation of a democracy. Imposing a national language in a multilingual set up could stir discontent among the masses on linguistic lines. Ultimately, it couldundermine the unity that holds the nation together. India is a poverty-afflicted developing country with more than 41 percent of the its poor stuck in the vicious cycle of poverty. There is no access to information for these people, crime rates are increasing and poor education in the poverty-stricken areas leadto a feeling of being deprived of the material conditions to even learn some of the official languages as recognized by the Constitution. They mostly speak and use their mother tongue in everyday life. Even if free learning is provided by government institutions, should they not learn the history, culture and literature of the language they speak always? Herein comes the question of morality.

A particular language can be understood more or less if it becomes the de facto language of the dominant entertainment industry in the country. This leads to the spread of the language throughout the country. Simply because it is understood by many does not necessarily connote that it should be a national language in a land of various identities and languages since no matter how popular and pervasive an entertainment industry is, the language of communication remains external to the personal life of the non-native speakers. That is, they don’t identify themselves with that language. Therefore, imposing a national language is out of the question even if it is the de facto language of communication across the states of India.

A recent UNESCO report indicates that India has the largest number of endangered languages in the world. At the moment, it is almost imperative to understand English for dealing with Government officials, an offshoot of colonization,at the same time, learning another language is not only difficult but would also, more importantly incur huge cost on the Government. There are other pressing issues that need to be dealt with before contending with the issue of one language to ensure national integrity. Linguistic diversity is, in fact, essential in terms of human heritage with each and every language embodying a unique cultural and historical wisdom.

Debarati Ganguly

Intern

Asia in Global Affairs